One of the engineering marvels of the 20th century, the St. Lawrence Seaway lifts ocean-going ships through a staircase of locks across the Canada-U.S. border — a dramatic transit best watched from the bow with a coffee in hand.
There is no shore call at the Seaway itself — it is a transit passage, not a port.
💡 Pro move: Most St. Lawrence itineraries combine this transit with calls at Montreal, Quebec City, Kingston, or the Thousand Islands — check your itinerary for those individual stops.
There are no cruise piers on the Seaway itself; ships transit the locks while underway.
| Cruise Line | Typical Berth / Arrival | Dock or Tender |
|---|---|---|
| All cruise lines | St. Lawrence Seaway locks (Eisenhower, Snell, Iroquois, etc.)📍 | Docked |
| Small expedition ships | May call at Kingston, Brockville, or Morrisburg en route📍 | Docked |
Shore excursions happen at the ports flanking the Seaway — Quebec City, Montreal, Kingston, and the Thousand Islands.
Stake out the bow or upper deck for the full lock transit — the ship squeezes into chambers barely wider than the hull, and the water rises rapidly around you.
Explore St. Lawrence cruises →September and October transforms the riverbanks into a blaze of reds, oranges, and yellows — some of the finest autumn colour in North America viewed from the water.
Find fall foliage cruises →From Kingston, take a boat tour through 1,800+ islands and visit the grand Rhineland-style Boldt Castle on Heart Island (U.S. waters — bring your passport).
Find Thousand Islands tours →Ships dock in the Old Port, steps from cobblestone streets, Notre-Dame Basilica, and the best smoked meat sandwich on the continent at Schwartz's Deli.
Find Montreal shore excursions →North America's only walled city is a short walk from the pier — stroll Quartier Petit Champlain, Dufferin Terrace, and La Citadelle for 400 years of French-Canadian history.
Find Quebec City tours →The Seaway is a transit — walking happens at the ports along the route.
Walk the outer decks from bow to stern as the ship transits a lock — each vantage point gives a different perspective of the lock walls, water level rising, and the industrial machinery at work.
📍 Open in MapsTransport options from the pier — taxis, shuttles, transit passes, and whether ride-share apps work here.
The St. Lawrence Seaway is a scenic underway transit through 7 locks — passengers observe from the ship decks. There are no scheduled shore stops at the locks themselves.
Some itineraries include optional stops at nearby cities such as Kingston or Montréal before or after the Seaway transit. Check your cruise line's excursion desk.
If your itinerary docks in Montréal or Québec City adjacent to the Seaway, Uber and Lyft both operate in those cities. A taxi from the Port of Québec to Old Quebec runs roughly CAD 15–25.
Upcoming cruises that call at St. Lawrence Seaway, Ontario/Quebec, Canada/USA. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.
Itineraries and prices change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking. Some links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.